Liberty Group Speaks Out Against Michigan Tax Increase
Our America Initiative's honorary chair, Governor Gary Johnson, knows the importance of opposing not just national efforts to hike taxes, but also those in the states. The Michigan affiliate of Our America Initiative is outraged at the recent tax increase votes by the Michigan Legislature, and is eager to work with other groups and individuals to prevent the tax hike from becoming law.
Detroit, MI, July 16, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Our America Initiative's honorary chair, Governor Gary Johnson, knows the importance of opposing not just national efforts to hike taxes, but also those in the states. The Michigan affiliate of Our America Initiative is outraged at the recent tax increase votes by the Michigan Legislature, and is eager to work with other groups and individuals to prevent the tax hike from becoming law.
On July first the Michigan Senate voted in favor of HB 4615 and HB 4616. Together these bills would have the effect of raising gas taxes by 15 cents per gallon. The House passed the original version of these bills on June 10. Since the House and Senate versions are different, a conference committee will need to reconcile these two versions and the final version will then need to be approved by the legislature and signed by Governor Rick Snyder before they become law. The time to oppose the tax hike is now.
"Alternatives to tax increases have been proposed, but Governor Rick Snyder and the leadership of both houses are dead set to raise taxes in spite of the public outcry against them. Why don't they look at alternatives like HB 4560, introduced by representative Peter Lucido, which would use interest from the $18-billion Michigan Catastrophic Claims Fund to pay for hundreds of millions of dollars annually in road repairs? Then there is also the Gamrat-Courser plan that calls for a 10% across-the-board cut in the state budget and pumping that money into roads. Taxes are the wrong approach."
Scotty Boman, Michigan Director
The impending tax increase comes in the wake of a May 5th special election in which 79% of the voters rejected a more modest increase in the sales tax. “What part of ‘No’ don’t they understand?” inquired Our America Initiative Michigan Director Scotty Boman. “In spite of an extremely well-funded advertising campaign by special interests, the voters sent Lansing a message: Taxed enough already.” He said.
Our America Initiative stood on the side of the voters well before the May 5th vote. In February the grassroots group posted a statement entitled, “No Tax Hike For Roads” which pointed out that, “…politicians have chosen to throw more money not at roads, but rather at the failed war on drugs, and corporate welfare schemes like the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and preferential subsidies.”
“Alternatives to tax increases have been proposed, but Governor Rick Snyder and the leadership of both houses are dead set to raise taxes in spite of the public outcry against them. Why don’t they look at alternatives like HB 4560, introduced by representative Peter Lucido, which would use interest from the $18-billion Michigan Catastrophic Claims Fund to pay for hundreds of millions of dollars annually in road repairs? Then there is also the Gamrat-Courser plan that calls for a 10% across-the-board cut in the state budget and pumping that money into roads. Taxes are the wrong approach.” Boman said. Now is the time for Michigan supporters of Our America Initiative to urge their state representatives and senators to support these alternatives to fund road construction and repairs, to stop the endless reliance on taking more taxes from working families.
Our America Initiative is a 501©(4) organization which seeks the promotion of free markets, economic freedom and individual liberty through grass roots advocacy. Michigan supporters wishing to help reduce government power and expand personal rights should contact Director Boman via www.ouramericainitiative.com/michigan.html